Frankel

Question 1

stories are best seen as..

Answer 1

independent units that are not designed to tell historical events, rather convey the world view of chazal

Question 2

How can we discern the point?

Answer 2

the structure often indicates.

Question 3

what is the main feature of these structures

Answer 3

closure (sgirut) and thus we can structurally examine the story for points of meaning

Question 4

understanding of characters and drashot

Answer 4

biblical story in rabbinic garb comes to clothe the new spiritual world of chazal
he notes that typically the characthers quote pesukim in the plain sense and the rabbis make drashot. kinda how he pictures midrash functioning

Question 5

midrash must..

Answer 5

create new meanings. thus, stuff in accordane with pshat isnt midrash